GlobeSt.com obtained an internal announcement from assetmanagement CEO Jes Staley, which said that Lazio will focus onclient development and marketing to the firm's investors;strengthening the firm's relationships with governmental and otherpublic officials; advising the firm on public policy issues; andrepresenting asset management at industry events. "Rick'sbackground and relationships, which span both business andgovernment, will provide us with unique insight and access to keyclients and help us maintain the business growth we have enjoyedthese past few years," Staley says in memo, which was sent to allasset management employees and to all JP Morgan Chase managingdirectors and SVPs, globally.

Staley says that "we look forwarding to capitalizing on Rick'soutstanding experience and knowledge. Rick has been instrumentalthese past few years in expanding and strengthening JPMorganChase's Government Relations group and efforts--significantlyimproving our communications and bolstering our impact withgovernment officials in the US and around the world."

Lazio will be joining asset management on April 28, and he willcontinue to work closely with Bill Daley and Jamie Dimon to helpselect a new head of Government Relations, Staley says. In aGlobeSt.com interview withLazio in 2002, he clearly showed an interest in real estate. Headmitted to a "passion" for multifamily housing. In his years inWashington, he was responsible for a number of major legislativeinitiatives geared toward encouraging home occupancy anddevelopment--with a particular emphasis on affordable housing. Hewas a cosponsor of the Affordable Housing Improvement Act of 1999,a bill to increase the credit cap from $1.25 to $1.75 per capita.And the Senior Citizens' Housing Financial Restructuring Act of1998 (HR 3635), which he authored, would guarantee continuedaffordable housing for more than 260,000 seniors across thecountry.